Improved vertical clothes drying rack

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical clothes drying racks with revolving feet anchored to a crossbar experience high torsion stress due to unbalanced loads, and their structural complexity is increased by multiple couplings for assembly and disassembly.

Innovation Solution

A simplified design where the revolving feet are exclusively pivoted to a reinforced lower crossbar made of plastic with a metal core, reducing the number of couplings needed to connect the crossbar to uprights and feet, using pivoting means with overlapped perforated shelves and plugs, and optionally, a hook with a T-shaped groove for connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If feet are anchored to a crossbar, then assembly is simplified, but torsion stress on the crossbar increases due to unbalanced loads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of couplingsVSAvoidtorsion stress on crossbar

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The crossbar is constructed as a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The plastic component provides corrosion resistance and dampening properties, while the integrated metal core provides enhanced mechanical strength and torsion resistance. This composite construction allows the crossbar to withstand the torsion stresses generated by unbalanced loads on the revolving feet without requiring additional couplings or braces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If multiple couplings are used to connect feet and crossbar, then assembly and disassembly become easier, but structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly and disassemblyVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of multiple separate couplings into a single integrated connection system. The revolving feet are directly anchored to the crossbar through built-in connection features, eliminating the need for separate coupling devices. This integration simplifies the overall structure while maintaining ease of assembly and disassembly through the modular design of the interconnected components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If crossbar is made of plastic only, then corrosion resistance improves, but mechanical strength under torsion stress decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidtorsion strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The crossbar is constructed as a composite structure combining plastic and metal materials. The plastic component provides corrosion resistance and dampening properties, while the integrated metal core provides enhanced mechanical strength and torsion resistance. This composite construction allows the crossbar to withstand the torsion stresses generated by unbalanced loads on the revolving feet without requiring additional couplings or braces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3575478B1Improved vertical clothes drying rack

Publication Date: 2021.09.15 FILPLAST

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AI summary

A vertical clothes drying rack (S2) comprises a frame provided with two opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) and comprising two uprights (M) connected by a lower crossbar (T1) and acting as support for at least one tilting grille (G), wherein said lower crossbar (T1) comprises two end sections (TT), comprising pivoting means (M2) for pivoting said opposite pairs of revolving feet (P) around a vertical axis, and two transverse end sections (ST) comprising connection means (M1) for connecting the lower crossbar (T1) to the base (B) of the two uprights (M).